No walk through the forest is complete without the ambiance of songbirds setting the tone.

No matter the locale, birds embody the freedom of flight and have fascinated people for thousands of years. Timmins avian enthusiasts will be out in force this coming weekend to partake in a 100-year tradition of counting area birds.

“We've participated in this annual count for almost 20 years,” said local avian enthusiast and organizer Mark Joron. “It is a great opportunity for people around Timmins who are interested in birds. It is a great citizen-science program for people to take part in.”

Joron insists that participants need not be experts, only someone with a vested interest in birds.

“We just need people who can identify a few birds,” he said. “It is just a matter of spending at least four hours counting birds, whether it is in your backyard or on a nature walk. It is just a way for us to get a good idea of how many birds are out there.”

Saturday's bird count will encompass a 24-kilometre area centering around highways 101 and 655.

“We have a map and when we get together at around 7 a.m. on Saturday at Mike's Restaurant on Algonquin, we sit down and decide where people are going to go,” said Joron. “People let us know where they will be and we plot it out on the map and try our best to make sure that everyone is somewhere, with no overlap.”

Depending on attendance, Joron and his fellow enthusiasts try to manage the large area.

“We try and cover as much of that 24-kilometre circle as we can in 24 hours,” he said. “We are looking for all birds. But the thing about this bird count that makes it unique, is when you look at the list of birds, there are probably about 25-30 birds that you know that you are going to see.”

Of those 24 common species, there are a handful that make for truly inspiring bird watching.

“There are a few unusual ones,” said Joron. “We discovered a pair of bald eagles nesting at Sandy Falls, which is incredible. We've been keeping an eye on them and they have stayed the whole year, which is truly fantastic. So if anyone wants to see a bald eagle, all they have to do is take a trip up to Sandy Falls and see for themselves. It makes a really interesting sight.”

Although there is the offhand chance that some birds may be counted twice, Joron is certain that it won't make a terribly large difference in the validity of this years count.

“Chances are you count a raven twice,” said Joron. “It will probably have been counted twice in previous years, which really doesn't do any harm to the overall count.

“Honestly it is just a great way to get out of the house and have some fun enjoying nature.”

Joron said that he couldn't think of any better way to spend time with family outdoors.

“It is just a great way to spend some quiet time with your family enjoying something so simple,” he said. “I fully encourage anyone who has any interest in birds to swing by Mike's on Saturday morning and take part in a tradition that has been part of our Christmas season for so many years.”